The winds of Vrindavan carried many things—pollen from the kadamba trees, laughter of playing children, and the music of Krishna's flute. But tonight, the breeze carried something else.
A voice.
Soft. Divine. Feminine.
It reached Aryan in his dreams, as moonlight bathed the rooftops.
> "Aryan," it whispered. "You walk the path well, but your heart still trembles at the weight of it."
He recognized the voice immediately.
Parvati ji.
---
The Dream Garden
Aryan stood barefoot in a celestial garden. It shimmered with silver grass and lotus trees taller than mountains. A marble bench curved beside a clear, still lake.
Parvati ji sat there, radiant in white and red, a lotus blooming at her feet.
Aryan bowed low.
"I don't know if I'm doing this right," he confessed. "Every time I help someone, I feel closer to something… but I don't know where it ends."
Parvati smiled gently. "It's not about where it ends, Aryan. It's about who you become while walking the path."
She raised her hand, and a glowing symbol appeared in the air—three golden flames.
"One for love," she said. "One for sorrow. One for destiny. These are the forms of your harem—not a collection of beauty, but of souls meant to walk beside you."
> "Do not treat them as trophies," she warned gently, "but as reflections of your dharma. Each flame will test you—devotion, protection, sacrifice."
---
The First Lesson: Emotional Dharma
Aryan sat quietly as Parvati continued.
> "In Kalyug, love is confused with desire. In Dwapar, it must be purified through choice."
> "You must love with compassion, not possession. Protect without controlling. Empower without eclipsing."
> "Only then," she said, "will your Prem-Saubhagya bloom to its full potential."
A new glyph burned in the air:
> System Update: Blessing of Parvati Tier II Unlocked
New Passive Skill: "Emotional Insight" – You can sense the unspoken feelings of those bonded to your soul. Works within a 10-meter radius.
Affinity Limit Raised: +1 (Max now 5)
New Divine Quest Added: "Balance of Hearts"
---
Upon Waking
Aryan sat up suddenly, sweat on his brow, but heart calm. The stars above were still glowing, but the air around him felt… charged. Sacred.
His System Interface glowed softly with new tabs and one blinking quest log.
> Quest: Balance of Hearts
Maintain emotional harmony with three bonded souls for 7 consecutive days.
Warning: Emotional conflict or neglect may reduce Affinity.
Reward: Unlock Special Group Skill (Triveni Grace)
He swallowed.
This was no ordinary "harem path." This wasn't about collecting girls or gaining power—it was about nurturing something divine, honest, and fragile.
And it wouldn't be easy.
Devika, for all her fire, still carried the scars of her forgotten past.
Radhika, the sweet village girl, was already growing quieter around him.
And Meenakshi—the cursed celestial he had yet to meet—was waiting in some forgotten corner of fate.
> "I have to earn their trust," he whispered to the moon. "Not as a warrior. Not as a system user. But as Aryan."
---
To be continued in Chapter 6: "Meenakshi of the Temple Ruins"